Back in the day I was adamant. Always read the ingredients of the products you are about to buy before committing to the final purchase. That was when doing something that simple was all one needed to do to guarantee they were using quality skin and body care. However, because “natural” products with “organic” ingredients are now a billion dollar business, there are many that want a piece of the pie, stopping at nothing to get it.

With green being the new black, health and being “eco” are unarguably in vogue, and in business that communicates a ripe opportunity to make top dollar. Because the cosmetic industry is self-regulated, anyone can create, market and sell their products without oversight or a set of standards to abide by and this has led to a growing trend for manufacturers and formulators to falsify ingredients to give the illusion that their product is as pure as the driven snow.

With that being said, how can you better understand what you are buying and if it is indeed a quality product that meets your high standards? Below are a few simple guidelines to follow…

• Be tentative when considering a product that claims to be “100% natural” and understand that this claim may have been strategically placed on the front of the product’s packaging to entice the consumer into picking up the product and at that point “owning it” and at that final point buying it, many a times without even reading the ingredients and the rest of the information on the bottle. Please know completely, in all situations what you are feeding your skin.
• Beware of “fragrance” as in the cosmetic industry, it is deemed a trade secret and that means that its ingredients are protected and need not be disclosed. Unfortunately, some use this to their advantage, hiding the cheapest and most noxious and hazardous chemicals that are in the product.
• Stick with purchasing reputable, established organic skin and body care lines. When unable to decide between two products, better to buy from established pioneers that have maintained an ethical mission for years than a brand new “green and “all natural” product that you are not familiar with.  Know you are always safe with lines like Dr. Hauschka, Weleda, Dr. Bronner’s, Pangea Organics, Aubrey Organics, Dr. Alkaitis, Living Nature,  Erbaviva, Priti, Suki Naturals, MiEssence, Evan Healy, Soleo Organics and of course my favorite, Elique Organic Skin Food to name just a few. Also, please do not let the price of a healthy product deter you. Remember, eating well (yes, your skin eats) may cost more, but you must never compromise when it comes to health and your body. Be conscious. Be smart.
• Avoid purchasing products at drug stores and instead realize that this is where the  product is most likely than not to be loaded to the rim with every standard cosmetic industrial chemical imaginable. Always buy your skin care where you buy your organic food or in a boutique or retail environment that chooses very specifically to retail healthy luxurious skin and body care.
• When shopping, always keep in mind that 99% of a mass produced product line’s budget is allotted for marketing and advertising. Sadly only 1% will be put aside for ingredients and that’s not a lot if you are shopping for quality components. The most authentic organic beauty care companies prioritize their budgets with you in mind opting to instead act with integrity and use quality, certified organic ingredients that are sustainably harvested and pure in all its form. They’re lucky if there is money left in the budget for marketing!
• Smell your product. Inhale deeply and first assess your initial impression. Is it very heavily “perfume-y”? Now after that initial scent, how does it finish? You will, I’m sure still be quite aware of the heavy perfume, but most likely you will also notice, deep down, the smell of unfriendly chemicals. Nine times out of ten, an extreme smelling, fruity and perfumed product is masking the odor of very strong, harsh and odiferous toxic  chemicals.
• Find a product you like and stick with it. I use only my skin care, Elique Organic Skin Food and for over ten years have loved Dr. Hauschka’s Milk Cream Cleanser and more recently Dollface’s Hoopla foaming wash as alternative cleansers to mine. There is no other SPF for me than Soleo Organics and I always polish my nails with Priti. Lip balm? Only Dr. Hauschka’s or Weleda’s. Only  if I am especially intrigued and curious about a product or doing research, will I use new products. Remember, the more fickle one is with beauty products, the more likely one will unnecessarily flood the body with toxicants.
• When in doubt, feed your skin with food. The easiest skin care regimens and the most effective and trustworthy are those that include primarily organic oils, avocados, honeys, yogurts and creams. Even mix white wine  with water to make a gentle toner for a more “sensitive” skin. People compliment me on my radiant skin almost everyday (I’m not kidding) and I tell them “I rarely use product. I use food!”